Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Andthereasonforhisconduct—hisverystrangeconduct—hestatesasfollows:‘Idonotknowmynephew,andverylikelyheisaspendthrift.Ifhewishestoshowmethatheisgoodforanything,lethimgoandacquireasmanysoulsasIhaveacquired;andwhenhehasdonethatIwilltransfertohimmythreehundredsoulsaswell.”
“Themanmustbeanabsolutefool,”commentedtheGeneral.
“Possibly.Andwerethatall,thingswouldnotbeasbadastheyare.But,unfortunately,myunclehasgoneandtakenupwithhishousekeeper,andhashadchildrenbyher.Consequently,everythingwillnowpasstoTHEM.”
“Theoldmanmusthavetakenleaveofhissenses,”remarkedtheGeneral.“YethowIcanhelpyouIfailtosee.”
“Well,Ihavethoughtofaplan.Ifyouwillhandmeoverallthedeadsoulsonyourestate—handthemovertomeexactlyasthoughtheywerestillalive,andwerepurchasableproperty—Iwillofferthemtotheoldman,andthenhewillleavemehisfortune.”
AtthispointtheGeneralburstintoaroaroflaughtersuchasfewcaneverhaveheard.Half-dressed,hesubsidedintoachair,threwbackhishead,andguffaweduntilhecameneartochoking.Infact,thehouseshookwithhismerriment,somuchsothatthebutlerandhisdaughtercamerunningintotheroominalarm.
Itwaslongbeforehecouldproduceasinglearticulateword;andevenwhenhedidso(toreassurehisdaughterandthebutler)hekeptmomentarilyrelapsingintosplutteringchuckleswhichmadethehouseringandringagain.
Chichikovwasgreatlytakenaback.
